Price included my old tyres wrapped in plastic bags and loaded into the back of the car. I stored them with relatives and will refit them in March. The tyre fitter said I was lucky to get them as Germany mandated winter tyres on December 1 and there's been a rush for them.

He claimed customers were coming from nearby Netherlands and even Belgium for tyres. He had no steel rims in stock my size, but could get them in 2-3 days. My tyres cost Euros 95 each, but I later saw German made remould winter tyres in at Euros 35 each in a Toom store - a sort of B&Q/Homebase type business. Snow/ice is worse in Germany and the stopping/starting grip with these new tyres is substantially improved...probably side grip too, but I don't attempt RAC Rally speeds.